Plaiting mechanism



Nov. 26, 1935. J. BRUDER ET AL 2,022,184

PLAITING {MECHANISM Filed Sept. 8, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l //v MEN 70 423-l /UL]U.5 Era/DER HARJLDEEUYD 1:4 ATTORNEYS Nov. 26, 1935. J BRUDER ETAL 2,022,134

PLAITING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 8, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jf/LJUE jRZ/DERHA. ULZ7 fimir Nov. 26, 1935. J. BRUDER ET AL 3 9 PLAITING MECHANISMFiled Sept. 8, 1953 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lhy n 1 W!!!" \lllmmm LIT/L105jRZ/DER //v I/E/V 7-025.-

Nov. 26, 135.

J. BRUDER ET AL 2,022,184

PLAITING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 8, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'lllllllllzgaw.

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAITING MECHANISM ofDelaware Application September 8, 1933, Serial No. 688,633

15 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in plaiting mechanism of thegeneral character illustrated in Patent No. 1,282,360 issued to CharlesAtherton on or about October 22, 1918, and whilenot limited thereto isparticularly useful in the manufacture of bellows for gas meters. Abellows comprises two metallic rings connected by a flexible web ofsuitable material, preferably leather.

The device of the Atherton patent above referred to and that of thepresent application each comprises an expansible chuck arranged todetachably engage and rotate two bellows rings and to hold a flexiblebellows tube on said rings. Each of the devices also comprises tworotary plaiting elements each of which comprises a peripheral series ofradially reciprocable blades which are normally forced outwardly butwhich successively engage the web of said tube when rotated in contacttherewith, so as to corrugate and gather the opposite ends of said webinto a circumferential series of plaits, thus reducing the circumferenceof the web to fit said rings. Means are also provided for wrappingbinding cords around the reduced flexible ends of said tube.

In the mechanism of the patent above referred to. the plaiting elementsare vertically reciprocable in a frame, the supports for which formobstructions adjacent the space where the ends;

of the cords are located thereby making it difficult for the operator tomanipulate the same. One of the objects of our present invention is theprovision of a tiltable member for supporting the plaiting elementspivotally mounted at the rear of the main drive shaft and the supportsfor which present no obstruction to the hands of the operator in tyingthe cords around the flexible web and in the manipulation of the partsassociated with the chuck.

In the patent above referred to, cam members are provided for retractingthe plaiting blades during the plaiting or puckering of the web, the onefixed and the other movable with respect to the frame on which they aremounted. In the device illustrated in that patent, the cam members aswell as the plaiting elements are mounted upon a vertically reciprocableframe on which is also mounted a carriage provided with rollers engagingthe chuck so that the cam member may readily be designed always tooccupy the correct position with respect to the plaiting blades.

further object of our invention is the provision of a cam membergenerallysimilar to the cam member or cam members illustrated in saidpatent for retracting the blades and. whichv is mounted upon the tiltingframe and is self-positioning with respect to the chuck and the blades.

. A further specific object of our invention is the provision of meansfor creating tension on the binding cords as they are wound around theflexible web, together with means whereby the tension on said cords mayreadily be released.

A still further object is to position the cord supply and the cordtensioning and guiding means so that the cords do'not pass through theline of vision of the operator as he watches the plaiting of the web anddo not present any obstruction to the hands of theoperator in startingor finishing the winding operation.

Other novel features of our invention will appear in the specificationand will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Our invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which is illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and inwhich Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view;

Fig. 4 is a plan View;

Fig. 5 is a front view, partially broken away, of the cord tensioningdevice;

Fig. 6 is a front view, partially broken away, of one form of mechanismfor gripping the cords;

Fig. 7 is a side View, partially broken away, of Fig. 6;

Fig.8 is a side view of the cam member for retracting the plaitingblades from the web and maintaining the same retracted after they haveleft the region of the chuck;

Fig. 9 is a planview of Fig. 8;

Fig. .10 is a front view, partially broken away, of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the means forproducing friction on a cord storing spool;

Fig. 12 is a front view of a modified form of cord gripping mechanism;Fig; 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view through a bellows formed by the machine.

Like reference characters indicate like parts 50. throughout thedrawings.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates generally the frame of themachine comprising a table 9 mounted on legs or standards 2 and 3 at theopposite ends thereof. The main drive shaft 4 has 5 its bearings at 5, 6and l on standards 8, 9 and IE9 extending upwardly from the table. Inthe embodiment of our invention illustrated, the shaft i is driven by anelectric motor II which may conveniently be mounted underneath the tableI. On a shaft [2 which is driven by the motor ll through suitablereduction gearing (-not illustrated) is mounted a sprocket wheel 13,which drives a sprocket wheel [4 mounted on the shaft t by means of achain 15.

A clutch member l6 interposed in the shaft 4 is actuated by a yoke I! onthe upper end of a lever l8, pivoted at [9 on a bracket member 20,secured to the table I. The lower end of the lever I8 is connected by alink 21 to one arm 22I of a bell crank 22, the other arm 222 of which isconnected by a link 23 to a foot lever 23!.

Mounted on the shaft 4 is a chuck indicated generally at 24, which maybe expanded or contracted and comprising two sections 24l and 242,substantially semicircular in cross section as indicated in Fig. 1. Whenthe two sections of the chuck are brought together, the circumference ofthe chuck is, of course, smaller than when the chuck is expanded. Themechanism for expanding and contracting the chuck may be the same asthat illustrated in said Patent, 1,282,360. In order to avoid confusionthe parts have not been completely illustrated herein, and reference maybe had to said patent for further details of such mechanism. Briefly aconical wedge not illustrated engages the inner surfaces of the twosections 2M and 242 of the chuck and when the wedge is moved axially bya hand wheel 25 mounted on the shaft 25l, the wedge is either advancedor retracted as desired. Spring means, not illustrated, are providedwhich tend normally to collapse the chuck. When the wedge is advanced,the chuck is expanded against the action of the springs and when it isretracted the springs contract the chuck. The rings 26 and 21 which forma part of the bellows, as best shown in Fig. 14 are adapted to bereceived and secured on the chuck. One of the rings 21 is first passedover the handwheel 25 and slipped on to the collapsed chuck until itengages flange 28. The chuck is provided with two spaced peripherallyarranged series of stop lugs which may be projectedout- Wardly beyondthe surface of the chuck or retracted to a position where they are flushwith the surface thereof by mechanism which may also be the same as thatillustrated in the said Atherton patent, and which are not hereillustrated. This mechanism is manually actuated by a small knurled knob29 passing through a slot 33 in a retaining ring 3!, as best shown inFig. 1. When the first ring has been placed against the flange 28, thehandle or knob 29 is operated to project the stop lugs outwardly. Theinner series of peripherally arranged lugs engage the ring 2'? andretain the same in position against the flange 28 and the outerperipherally arranged series of lugs form stops for the other ring 26which is similarly positioned by slipping it over the handwheel and onto the chuck. The chuck is then expanded by rotating the handwheel 25,thereby securing the rings to the chuck. A flexible web, usually ofleather, the ends of which are suitably sewed or otherwise securedtogether and having a considerably greater diameter than that of thechuck or rings is then placed over the rings .26 and 21.

In order to reduce the diameter of the two ends of the flexible webwhich forms the tubular member 1n. the completed bellows and make itconform to the diameter of the rings to which it is secured, the twoends of the web are plaited. The plaiting is carried out by two plaitingdiscs or elements 32 and 33 which are mounted on a shaft 34, which is inturn mounted in one end of a tiltable frame 35, pivoted on a shaft 36having its bearings at 31 on standards 38.

The plaiting elements 32 and 33 are each provided with radially movableplaiting blades 39 which are preferably of the same character as thoseillustrated in the said Patent 1,282,360, and to which reference may bemade for fuller details. The blades are normally projected outwardly bysuitable springs, (not illustrated).

The frame which carries the plaiting elements is overbalanced by acounterweight 35H which normally holds the plaiting elements in uptiltedposition. These elements are moved downwardly by a foot lever 40 pivotedat 495 to the floor. The lever 40 isconnected by a link 4! to the frameas indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The link 4| is preferably provided with aturn buckle 42, by which the extent of the downward movement of thefront end of frame 35 may be adjusted.

The plaiting elements 32 and 33 are rotated by the drive shaft 4,preferably through a series of gears including a gear 43 mounted on saidshaft. The gear 43 meshes with a gear 44, mounted on a shaft having itsbearings in the standard 45. The gear 44 in turn meshes with a gear 45,mounted on a shaft 4': and gear 46 meshes with a gear 48, mounted on theshaft 35, which forms the pivot for the frame 35. The gear 48 mesheswith a gear 49 mounted on a stub shaft 58 mounted on the frame 35 onwhich is also mounted gear 5|, meshing with a gear 52 which is mountedon the shaft 34. As the frame 35 is tilted, therefore, the gear 59 makesa planetary movement about the gear 48.

When the plaiting elements 32 and 33 are lowered to the positionillustrated in Fig. l, the blades first engage the web at their maximumradial extent and in such inclined relation with the peripheries of therings as to include a greater circumferential length of the web betweenthe points of adjacent blades than they do as they approach the pointwhere they are normal to the common tangent plane of the chuck andplaiting element. The result is that asthe plaiting elements arerotated, the ends: of the Web are plaited or corrugated to an extentsufficient to reduce the diameter of the web to that of the rings 26 and21.

In order to secure the tubular bellows web upon the said rings as theweb is plaited, binding cords 54 and 55 are wrapped around it inregistry with the respective rings 26 and 21. The cords, 54 and 55, arestored on spools 55 and 5's respectively which may conveniently bemounted beneath the table I, in brackets 58. From the spools the twobinding cords pass upwardly through two tensioning devices indicated at59 and and thence over idler pulleys 6! and 62 to a cord-gripping deviceindicated generally at E3 in Figs. 1 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 6 and7. By directing the cords 54 and to the guide members 52, and leadingthe cords to the guide members from points outside 7 of the space aboveand in front of the portions of the cords extending from the guidemembers to the web, a free space is provided above n front of theportions of the cords extending from the guide members to the webthereby affording the operator access to the said portions of the cordsand to the web itself for manually completing the plaiting operation inthe described manner and for tying the ends of the cords when thewinding operation has been completed.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated, the cord-gripping device63 is rotated by an open annular gear 64 surrounding the chuck 24 andguided by a housing 65 formed of two sections and provided with a grooveof the same character as that illustrated in the said Atherton patent inwhich is received a dove-tail shaped flange 66.

The annular gear 64 is driven by a gear 61 mounted on the shaft 4. Thegear 61 meshes with a pinion 68 mounted on a shaft 69 having itsbearings in standards I0 and II A pinion I2 mounted on the shaft 69meshes with the annular gear 64. The gear 61 is preferably of the samediameter as the open gear 64 and the pinions B8 and I2 are also of thesame diameter so that the annular open gear 64 is driven in timedrelation to the shaft 4 and preferably has the same speed as the shaftand the chuck mounted thereon.

In order instantly to stop the turning movehient of said chuck and cordgripping mechanism when the pedal lever 23I is released, we provide 25the shaft 4 with a drum 80I as best illustrated in Fig. 1, which isengaged by opposed substantially semicircular straps 802 pivoted on astud 803 on the standard 9, said straps being arranged to engage saiddrum frictionally with any desired degree of pressure determined by theadjustment of the bolt 804.

The cord gripping device 63 is mounted on a support 13, the outer end ofwhich is provided with a flange 14, as best shown in Fig. 3, the outersurface of the flange conforming to the inner surface of the annulargear 64 to which it is bolted or otherwise secured. The device, .as bestshown in Figs. 6 and '7, comprises a head I5 to the ends of which aresecured plates I6 as by screws I1.

40 Each cord gripping element comprises a stationary jaw I8 which ispreferably formed integral with the plate I6, and a cooperating movablejaw '59 pivoted at 89. The movable jaw I9 is provided with an extension,preferably in the form of a plate 8I, which is provided with a slot 82as best shown in Fig. 6. A roller 83 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 84and .actuated by a suitable handle 85 is received in the slot 82, whichis so formed that when the handle 85 occupies the position indicated inFig. 6, the gripping jaws I8 and 19 are open to permit the operator toinsert one of the cords. When the handle 85 is rotated in the directionof the arrow in Fig. 6 against a stop pin 86, the roller 83 moves theplate 8| to the right,

as viewed in Fig. 6, and brings the movable jaw 59 into cord grippingengagement with the fixed jaw I8. Both of the cord gripping elements areor may be the same and the description of one, will suflice for both.

60 Referring to Fig. 5 which best illustratesthe cord tensioning device,81 is a center hub secured to a fixed shaft 88, as by studs 8', one endof the shaft 88 being conveniently mounted in a standard 89, while theopposite end thereof may be mounted in the frame. Friction discs 99 and9! are loosely mounted on the shaft 88 adjacent to the hub 81 andcooperating with flanges 92 and 93, which are also loosely mounted onthe shaft 38 adjacent to hubs 94 and 95 on the shaft 88. The hub 94 isforced to the right and the hub 95 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5 bysprings 96 which surround the shaft and are interposed between the endsof the respective hubs and adjusting nuts 91 received on threadedportions of the shaft 88. The respective binding cords 54 and 55 passbetween the flanges 9I and 93 and the flanges and 92 forming the cordtensioning devices 59 and 69 respectively, and the tension created onthe cords may readily be adjusted by adjustment of the springs 96. 5

vided at their upper ends with yokes 99, which 10' engage the-hubs 94and 95, and are pivotally connected at intermediate portions to a linkI90. The lower ends of the levers are pivotally connected to angularlydisposed arms I9I, the

ends of which are pivotally connected together 15' as indicated in Fig.1, the pivotal connection being joined by a link N12 to a pedal leverI03 which is pivoted as at I94 to a standard mounted on the floor. Whenthe operator desires to release the tension on the cords, the lever I03is 20 depressed and the links IEII move the lower ends of the levers 98toward each other and separate the upper ends, thus moving the flanges92 and 93 away from the flanges 9D and SH.

In Fig. 11, we have illustrated a device for va- 25 rying the tension onthe cord storage spools 56 and 51. One end of the spool is mounted on astub shaft I65 having its bearing in the brackets 58. In the embodimentillustrated the spool is connected to the shaft I E15 by a pin Iill, the30 bent end of which is received in an opening I08 in the end flange ofthe spool. The outer end of the shaft I05 and the end of a similar shaftfor the spool 5'1 are received in openings in bosses H9 formed on aplate I99. secured to the standard '58 and passes through an opening H2in the plate I99. A spring H3 is interposed between a winged nut I I4,which is received on the threaded end of the stem III., and

the plate I I2. The tension on the spring I I3 may 40.

be varied by turning the nut and the friction produced between the endsof the stub shaft I and the plate I 09 may be correspondingly varied.The plate I99 is preferably common to both spools so that the resistanceto the turning of 45 each may be simultaneously varied.

As it is desirable to withdraw the plaiting blades 39 from thefiexible'tube 53 as they complete the plaiting operation, we provideeach of the plaiting elements with a blade retracting 50' mechanism ofthe character illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10. As the bladesare successively brought into plaiting engagement with the webs,laterally extending lugs IE5 on the blades (see Fig. 1) are brought intoengagement with the 55 cam surface 5 IE on a cam member I H which liftsthem from their fully projected positions while the plaiting operationis being carried out and which maintains them in their retractedposition when the plaitingoperation has been completed 60 and until theyare past the region of the web, The cam member I I1 is mounted on asupporting member H8 which is, in turn, mounted on a member II9pivotally connected as at I29 to an arm I2I which is preferably integralwith the 65 frame 35 as best shown in Fig. 1. The support I I8 for thecam member H1 is preferably laterally adjustable by means of bolts I22passing through slots in the member H8 and received in tapped openingsin the member I I9, the heads 7 0' of the bolts preferably engagingwashers which in turn engage the member H8. By loosening the bolts I22the cam member II'I may be adjusted laterally with respect to the armII9 on which it is supported. 75

Stem III is 35 A carriage I24 is adjustably supported by the member II9.Spaced screws I25 are received in tapped openings in the carriage I24 asbest indicated in Fig. I0, the upper ends of the screws or studs I25being unthreaded and received in recesses in the horizontal portion ofthe supporting member I I9. The carriage I24 is supported by a boltI24b, the head of which is received in a slot I240 in the member H8 andwhich engages the horizontal portion of the supporting member II 9. Thelower end of the bolt I24b is received in a tapped opening in thecarriage I24. The carriage I24 is provided with rollers I24a whichengage the chuck when the carriage and associated parts are lowered. Thecarriage I24 may be adjusted relatively to the parts on which it issupported and the cam member IIB by first loosening the bolt I24b, thenadjusting the spaced studs I25 and again bringing the head of the boltI241) against its seat. Such adjustment compensates for variations inthickness of the web.

The member H9 is pivotally supported on the arm I2I by meansof a boltI28 which forms a pivotal connection between the two, the boltpreferably passing through a slot I23 formed in the arm I2I whichfurnishes relative vertical movement between the two. A stop- I251: ispreferably provided at the front of the support for the cam to preventthe swinging of the support past the center line of the chuck andthereby prevent the proper positioning of the cam member. The stop I25amay conveniently be formed by bending the end of a strip or blade I25b=which may be suitably secured to the arm I2I. When the tilting frame 35is lowered, the rollers I24a of the carriage I24 engage the chuck, andthe cam member I I1 is brought into proper position to lift the plaitingblades from the web as the plaits or puckers are being formed thereinand to maintain the blades out of engagement with the plaits as theyhave been formed avoiding puncturing and otherwise injuring the web.

In Figs. 12 and 13 we have illustrated a modified form of the cordgripping device in which both sets of gripping jaws are actuated by asinle handle. In this form of our invention, the movable jaws 18I aresecured on and. actuated by pins I29. A shaft I21 which is received inan opening I28 in the head 'I5I is provided with flattened portionsforming cam surfaces which are designed to control the operation of themovable jaws. Obviously a cam may be secured to the shaft I21 or .a camsurface fabricated integrally therewith as above indicated. Springs I30are imposed between the movable jaws 'I8I and the fixed jaws 19I andserve to hold the inner ends of the pins I29 against the cam surfaces ofthe shaft I 21. A suitable operating handle I is secured to the shaftI21 whereby its cam surface may be rotated to force the pins I29outwardly, thereby simultaneously closing the gripping jaws of thedevice. Obviously, when the handle 85I is rotated in a reversedirection, the springs I39 force the pins I 29 and the movable jaws 'IBIsecured thereto inwardly thereby opening the jaws an amount suificientto permit the insertion of cords therebetween.

The motor II is preferably connected to the shaft I2 on which thesprocket wheel I3 is mounted through a reduction gearing so thatnormally the shaft 4 is rotated at a comparatively low rate of speed. Adevice I33, preferably in the form of a switch mechanism operable by thefoot of an operator, permits a dual speed operation of the motor, inother words, the shaft 4 may be the ring 21 over the handwheel 25 andover the chuck until it abuts against the flange 28 and actuates thestop lugs, the peripheral series of which adjacent the ring 21 retainsthe same in position and the other peripheral series form a stop for thesecond ring 26, which the operator.

then similarly slips over the handle 25 and over the chuck against theouter stops. Sections MI and 242 of the chuck are at this timecontracted to a smaller diameter than the rings, and the cord grippingmechanism is positioned over the chuck. The chuck jaws MI and 242 arethen expanded to hold both of the bellows rings by turning the knob orhandwheel 25. The bellows tube 53, which is shown in completed form inFig. 14 is then slipped over the handwheel 25 and hangs festoon fashionupon the rings 26 and 21 encircling the chuck, the lower portion thereofhanging below the chuck within the opening formed between the chuck andthe annular gear 54 and the support 65 therefor. It will, of course, beunderstood that a guide for the bellows tube similar to that shown inthe patent above referred to, may be used, for directing the web to thecorrect position. The free ends of both of the cords 54 and 55, whichextend beyond the tension devices 59 and 60, are drawn rearwardly by theoperator between the stationary jaws 18 and the movable jaws 19 of thecord gripping device. The cords are then clamped by turning therespective handles 85, or in case of the modification illustrated inFigs. 12 and 13, by turning the single handle 85I. The pedal 40 is thendepressed to tilt the frame 35 and lower the plaiting elements intooperative engagement with the web, the pedal 23I is depressed to closethe clutch I6, and the plaiting discs together with the annular gear 64which carries the cord gripping mechanism and the chuck with the bellowsthereon, are simultaneously rotated at the same comparatively low speed.The chuck and the bellows are rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig.I, approximately 330, whereupon the pedal 23I is released to stop therotation of the chuck and of the cord gripping mechanism. The machine isthus stopped at this stage because as the chuck has been thus turned andthe bellows tube 53 plaited and bound by the cord wrapped thereon, thereis likely to be a slack bight of the tube near or in the region wherethe plaiter blades 39 first engage the leather, and such bight of thetube is conveniently drawn forward and plaited under the cord by clawedtools manipulated by both hands of the operator. While the chuck and thecord clamping device are thus stationary, the free ends of the cords 54and 55 extending rearwardly from the cord clamping jaws are thenmanually turned outwardly by the respective hands of the operator to aposition parallel with the axis of the chuck so that during thesuccessive-revolutions of the chuck the ends may be brought down on thebellows tube by the succeeding convolutions of the cord. Pedal 23I isagain depressed to close the clutch and turn the chuck to complete itsfirst revolution.

15 of revolutions.

The pedal lever 40, when depressed, is held in its depressed position bya latch I 34, which is normally retained in the position illustrated inFig. 1 by a spring I35. The operator now releases 5. the pedal lever 40by releasing the latch I34 by means of a foot lever I36 and thecounterweight 355 tilts the frame 35 counter-clockwise, as viewed inFig. 3, and lifts the plaiting elements away from the web.

10, The control device 533 is then depressed by the operator and themotor I I which is controlled thereby is operated at a comparativelyhigh speed and the chuck, together with the cord gripping device, ispermitted to turn any desired number In practice, We find that threeadditional wrappings of the cord are suflicient so that there arealtogether four convolutions of the binding cord 56 and 55 around theweb. The pedal 23! is thereupon released to stop the rota- 20: tion ofthe chuck, together with the cord gripping mechanism in its originalvertical radial position with respect to the chuck. Upon the completionof the desired number of revolutions of the chuck and when the desirednumber of appings of the binding cord have been made around the web, theends of the cord are tied in the same manner as described in the patentabove referred to. After the cords have been severed, the handle 29 isturned in a direction 30 appropriate to Withdraw the stops from therings 26 and 2f, the chuck is contracted by turning the handle 25 andthe bellows is withdrawn from the chuck and over the handle 25, as inthe patent above referred to, thus completing a single cycle.

35 While we have described our invention in its preferred embodiment, itis to be understood that the words which we have used are Words ofdescription rather than of limitation and that the drawings are merelyillustrative. Hence, changes 40 ,within the purview of the appendedclaims may be made without departing from the true scope "and spirit ofour invention in its broader aspects.

What we claim is:

1. In a plaiting device, of the character de- 5 scribed, the combinationwith a chuck of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby a ring may be secured in a pre-determined position on saidchuck, a rotatable plaiting element adapted to register with said ringand 50 engage and plait a flexible web receivable on said ring, apivotally mounted member on which said element is supported, meanswhereby said member may be tilted, and means for driving said element intimed relation to said shaft.

55; 2. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck, of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby two rings may be secured on said chuck in a pre-determinedspaced relation, rotatable 60 plaiting elements adapted to register withsaid rings and engage and plait a flexible web receivable thereon, apivotally mounted member on which said elements are supported, meanswhereby said member may be tilted, and means 65;:for driving saidplaiting elements in timed relation to said shaft.

3. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck, of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, means 70whereby two rings may be secured on said chuck in a pre-determinedspaced relation, rotatable plaiting elements adapted to register withsaid rings and engage and plait a flexible web receivable thereon, acounterweighted pivotally mount- 75 ed frame on which said elements aresupported,

means whereby said frame may be tilted, and means for driving saidelements from said shaft.

4. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck, of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meansframe, and means for driving said elements in timed relation to saidshaft 5. In a plaiting device, of the character described, thecombination with a chuck, of a drive shaft on which said chuckis'mounted, means whereby two rings may be secured on said chuck in apre-determined spaced relation, ro-

tatable plaiting elements adapted to register with said rings and engageand plait a flexible web receivable thereon, an open annular rim, meansfor rotating the same, means carried by said rim for winding cordsaround the ends of said flexible web and around said rings therebybinding the ends of said web to the respective rings;

a substantially'free space being provided on each side of said rimthereby affording free access for both hands of the operator to therespective ends of the web, a pivotally mounted member on which saidelements are supported, means whereby said member may be tilted, andmeans for driving said plaiting elements in timed relation to saidshaft.

6. In a plaiting device of the character described, the combination witha chuck, of a first drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby a ring may be secured in a predetermined position on said'chuck,a pivotally mounted member, a second shaft mounted there- 40 on, aplaiting element mounted on said second shaft and adapted to registerwith said ring and plait a flexible web receivable thereon, a drivingelement mounted on said second shaft, means whereby said member may betilted, and means for rotating said driving element from said firstdrive shaft in timed relation thereto.

'7. In a plaiting device of the character described the combination witha chuck, of a first drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted,

means whereby a ring may be secured in a predetermined position on saidchuck, a pivotally mounted member, a second shaft mounted thereon, aplaiting elemented mounted on said second shaft and adapted to registerwith said ring and plait a flexible web receivable thereon, a drivinggear mounted on said second shaft and connections between said driveshaft and said driving gear for driving said driving gear in timedrelation to said drive shaft.

.8. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby a ring may be secured in a pre-determined position on saidchuck, a rotatable plaiting element adapted to register with said ringand engage a flexible web receivable thereon said element being providedwith a peripherally arranged series of radially movable plaiting blades,means for normally forcing said blades outwardly, a pivotally mountedfirst member on which said element is mounted, means for tilting saidmember, a cam member pivotally mounted on said first member and providedwith means engageable with said chuck for positioning said 7 cam memberwith respect to the associated plaiting element, said cam member beingprovided with a cam surface engageable with said blades for retractingthe same, means for tilting said member, and means for driving saidelement in timed relation to said drive shaft.

9. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby a ring may be secured in a pre-determined position on saidchuck, a rotatable plaiting element adapted to register with said ringand engage a flexible Web receivable thereon, said element beingprovided with a peripherally arranged series of radially movableplaiting blades, means for normally forcing said blades outwardly, apivotally mounted first member on which said element is mounted, meansfor tilting said member, a cam member pivotally mounted on said firstmember and provided with means engageable with said chuck forpositioning said cam member with respect to the associated plaitingelement, said cam member being provided with a cam surface engageablewith said blades for retracting the same, means whereby said cam membermay be adjusted towards and away from said chuck, means for tilting saidmember, and means'for driving said element intimed relation to saiddrive shaft.

10. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby a ring may be secured in a pre-determined position on saidchuck, a second shaft, a counter-weighted tiltable member mountedthereon, a third shaft mounted on said member, a rotatable plaitingelement mounted on said third shaft and adapted to register with saidring and engage a flexible web receivable thereon, a driven elementmounted on said third. shaft, a driving element mounted on said secondshaft, means whereby said driven element may be actuated by said firstdriving element, means whereby said member may be tilted and meanscomprising said driving element and said driven element for actuatingsaid plaiting element in timed relation to said drive shaft.

11. In a plaiting device, of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby a ring may be secured in a pre-determined position on saidchuck, a rotatable plaiting element adapted to register with said ringand engage a flexible web receivable thereon, said element beingprovided with a peripherally arranged series of radially movableplaiting blades, provided with laterally extending lugs, means fornormally advancing said blades outwardly, a pivotally mounted firstmember on which said element is mounted, means for tilting said member,a cam member pivotally mounted on said first member and provided withmeans engageable with said chuck for centering said cam member, andprovided with a cam surface engageable with said lugs for retractingsaid blades, means whereby said first member may be tilted, and

means for driving said element in timed relation to said drive shaft.

12. In a plaiting mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck, of a first drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted,means whereby a ring may be secured in a predetermined position on saidchuck, an annular driving member surrounding said chuck, means formaintaining said member concentric to said chuck, a plaiting elementadapted to register with said ring, means for driving said element intimed relation to said shaft, means secured to the said driving memberfor windinga cord around a flexible web receivable on said ring, and apivotally mounted member on which 1 said plaiting element is rotatablysupported and mounted on a support at the rear of said shaft whereby afree space is provided at the sides of said plaiting element and readyaccess is afforded to the operator for the manipulation of the 2 cord.

13. In a plaiting mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck of a first shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby two rings may be secured on said in a predetermined spacedrelation, an annular,

driving member surrounding said chuck, means for maintaining saiddriving member concentric to said chuck, plaiting elements adapted toregister with said rings, means for driving said ele- 3 ments in timedrelation to said shaft, means secured to said driving member for windingcords around the respective ends of a flexible web receivable on saidrings, and a member carrying said plaiting elements pivotally mounted atthe 3 rear of said shaft; whereby free spaces at the sides of saidplaiting elements are provided affording ready access to the operatorfor the manipulation of the cords.

14;. In a plaiting device of the character de-4 scribed, the combinationwith a chuck, of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby two rings may be secured on said chuck in a predetermined spacedrelation and on which a flexible web may be received, means for plaitingsaid web, and a device for winding respective cords around the ends ofsaid flexible web, said device comprising gripping means for engagingthe respective cords, and a common manually operated member foractuating said 5 gripping means.

15. In a plaiting device of the character described, the combinationwith a chuck, of a drive shaft on which said chuck is mounted, meanswhereby two rings may be secured on said 5 chuck in a predeterminedspaced relation and on which a flexible web may be received, means forplaiting said web, and a device for winding respective cords around theends of said flexible web, said device comprising separate gripping 0means for the respective cords and a cam member, means whereby the saidcam member may be operated, and means actuated by said cam member forsimultaneously operating said gripping means.

JULIUS BRUDER. HAROLD D. BOYD.

